Homewood votes to pursue casino with East Hazel Crest

November 28, 2012|By Patrick Guinane | Special to the Tribune

Homewood trustees voted unanimously Tuesday to partner with neighboring East Hazel Crest in a bid to lure a casino.

Mayor Rich Hofeld said the villages explored the idea for more than a year but moved forward this week amid high hopes that state lawmakers will authorize a south suburban casino during their ongoing fall session.

Plans call for a casino on 11 acres available for development south of Interstate 80/294 and west of Halsted Street in East Hazel Crest, with the project expected to span another 5.3 acres available in Homewood.

Earlier this month, a Nevada gambling company pitched plans to build a $250 million casino in nearby Country Club Hills.

“I'm sure everyone feels that they have the best game in town. We know we have the best site,” Hofeld said. “The access from I-80 is superb. No one else can offer that. There's basically not even a traffic light. You've come off the ramp and you're at the site.”

The Village Board's 6-0 vote OK'd a 45 percent cut of local casino revenue for Homewood, with East Hazel Crest netting 55 percent.

Homewood Village Manager Jim Marino said an analysis of local revenue produced by other Illinois casinos suggests the villages would be in line to split at least $6.2 million a year. However, Hofeld said the villages remain open to broader revenue sharing among other south suburbs.

Homewood will pay law firm Barnes & Thornburg up to $135,000 to solicit proposals from casino developers and operators. East Hazel Crest trustees are expected to kick in $165,000 when they consider the casino agreement Wednesday night.

The joint venture, announced a day earlier, drew only one opponent Tuesday night. Tara Goodwin of Homewood held a sign opposing the casino but chose not to address the board.

“Homewood is a small, quiet town. I think that's why most of us chose to live here,” she said outside of the meeting room. “I'm opposed to having a casino in our town.”

East Hazel Crest and Homewood plan to hold a joint public meeting in mid-December, though details have yet to be set. Hofeld said attendees will be allowed to ask questions.

“I think there is a lot concern that we're trying to get this run through without any public input,” Homewood Trustee Tom Kataras said of constituent emails he received. “We're going to have public hearings. This is not a slam-dunk.”

The entire plan is predicated on state legislators reaching accord with Gov. Pat Quinn or voting to override his August veto of legislation that would create five new casino licenses, including ones for Chicago and the south suburbs. The Illinois General Assembly began its two-week veto session Tuesday, and lawmakers are expected back for another lame-duck session in early January.

“We've been told that this is a very opportune time for the legislation to pass in the veto session,” Hofeld said.

In late September, Homewood gave $10,000 contracts to Barnes & Thornburg and William F. Mahar Inc. to work with East Hazel Crest on a joint development. Trustees also voted to spend $28,000 to acquire property near 175th Street and Halsted that could serve as a key southern access point to the proposed casino development.